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Bodhidharma Talks

Bodhidharma was a semi-legendary Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and is regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. He is also popularly regarded as the founder of Shaolin kung fu, an idea popularized in the 20th century, but based on the 17th-century Yijin Jing and the Daoist association of daoyin gymnastics with Bodhidharma.

Little contemporary biographical information on Bodhidharma exists, and subsequent accounts are layered with legend and unreliable details. According to the principal Chinese sources, Bodhidharma came from the Western Regions, which typically refers to Central Asia but can also include the Indian subcontinent. He is described as either a "Persian Central Asian" or a "South Indian [...] the third son of a great Indian king." Aside from the Chinese accounts, several popular traditions also exist regarding Bodhidharma's origins. Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as an ill-tempered, large-nosed, profusely bearded, wide-eyed non-Chinese person.

The accounts also differ on the date of his arrival. One early account claims that he arrived during the Liu Song dynasty (420–479 CE). Later accounts date his arrival to the Liang dynasty (502–557 CE). Bodhidharma was primarily active in the territory of the Northern Wei (386–534 CE). Modern scholarship dates him to about the early 5th century CE.

Bodhidharma's teachings and practice center on meditation and the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra. The Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall (952) identifies Bodhidharma as the 28th Patriarch of Buddhism in an uninterrupted line that extends back to the Gautama Buddha himself.

From bodhidharma on Wikipedia

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Title	Speaker	Date
Mindfulness and the Path to Liberation The talk discusses the significance of the Platform Sutra in Zen practice, highlighting its role in the exploration of sudden versus gradual enlightenment and the inherent purity of the mind. The... Suffering, Bodhidharma, Practice Period, Suffering, Bodhidharma, Practice Period...	Gengyoko Tim Wicks	May 02 2026 City Center
Three Turning Phrases Serial: SF-12379 08/13/2025, Anshi Zachary Smith, dharma talk at City Center. Anshi Zachary Smith examines case 96 from the Blue Cliff Record which holds suggestions about how to frame one’s... Blue Cliff Record, Bodhidharma	Anshi Zachary Smith	Aug 13 2025 City Center
Mind-Only Pathways in Zen Teaching Serial: SF-09493 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Yogacara Kakuon on 2025-03-09 Bodhidharma	Fu Schroeder	Mar 09 2025
Mind-Only: Zen's Mystical Journey Serial: SF-09830 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2025-03-09 Bodhidharma	Fu Schroeder	Mar 09 2025
Awakening Through Zen Intentions Serial: SF-08583 Talk by Kokyo Henkel at Green Gulch Farm on 2024-12-22 Bodhidharma	Kokyo Henkel	Dec 22 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Zen Embrace: Practice Non-Preference Serial: SF-08562 Talk by Kokyo Henkel at Green Gulch Farm on 2024-03-10 Ordinary Mind, Bodhidharma, Zazen	Kokyo Henkel	Mar 10 2024 Green Gulch Farm
An Encounter at the Bakery! Serial: SF-08822 08/23/2023, Anshi Zachary Smith, dharma talk at City Center. The most striking feature of the famous Koan recorded as Case 1 of the Blue Cliff Record and entitled, in... Bodhidharma, Blue Cliff Record	Anshi Zachary Smith	Aug 23 2023 City Center
Transcending Mind: Zen's Collective Consciousness Serial: SF-08793 Talk by Chikudo Catherine Spaeth at City Center on 2023-07-26 Zazen, Bodhidharma	Chikudo Catherine Spaeth	Jul 26 2023 City Center
Bodhidharma’s Four Inclusive Practices Serial: SF-08910 02/04/2023, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. In commemorating Zen’s first Chinese Ancestor, Abbot David provides an overview of Bodhidharma’s seminal... Bodhidharma, Suffering	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Feb 04 2023 City Center
Two Truths, Part 4 Serial: SF-08029 10/29/2022, Furyu Schroeder, dharma talk at Tassajara. October sesshin series at the Tassajara fall practice period on the relative and absolute. Bodhidharma, Transmission	Fu Schroeder	Oct 29 2022 Tassajara
Untangling our Ancient Twisted Karma Serial: SF-07958 05/14/2022, Pamela Weiss, dharma talk at City Center. This talk shares stories of our ancestors—Bodhidharma, Huike and Sengcan—and shows how the freedom we discover in... Bodhidharma	Monitsu Pamela Weiss	May 14 2022 City Center
The Refuge of Letting Go Serial: SF-07917 On the day of the celebration of Bodhidharma's Awakening a talk on the mind as fiction. 02/05/2022, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. Bodhidharma, Ceremony	Ryushin Paul Haller	Feb 05 2022 City Center
Who Can Untangle The Tangle? Serial: SF-11041 When the Emperor of China asked Bodhidharma who he was, the great teacher replied “Don’t know.” How do we respond when asked this very question? 02/21/2021, Furyu Nancy... Bodhidharma, New Year	Fu Schroeder	Feb 21 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Who can untangle the tangle? Serial: SF-11126 When the Emperor of China asked Bodhidharma who he was, the great teacher replied “Don’t know.” How do we respond when asked this very question? 02/21/2021, Furyu Nancy... Bodhidharma	Fu Schroeder	Feb 21 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Silent Rituals: Embodying Zen Enlightenment Serial: SF-09788 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha at Green Gulch Farm on 2020-03-07 Bodhidharma, Blue Cliff Record, Koan	Fu Schroeder	Mar 07 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Tracing Zen's Timeless Evolution Serial: SF-09792 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha at Green Gulch Farm on 2020-02-28 Bodhidharma	Fu Schroeder	Feb 28 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Zen's Journey: India to China Serial: SF-09756 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha at Green Gulch Farm on 2020-02-21 Bodhidharma, Blue Cliff Record	Fu Schroeder	Feb 21 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Aging with Zen: Embrace Impermanence Serial: SF-10841 09/08/2019, Grace Dammann, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm Suffering, Bodhidharma	Dr. Grace Dammann	Sep 08 2019 Green Gulch Farm
Mind as Buddha: Embracing Emptiness Serial: SF-11590 Talk by Furyu Sesshin on 2018-11-17 Bodhidharma, Enlightenment	Fu Schroeder	Nov 17 2018
Trusting Uncertainty: Experiencing Zen Serial: SF-11641 2/3/2018, Ryushin Paul Haller dharma talk at Tassajara. Dogen, Bodhidharma, Study	Ryushin Paul Haller	Feb 03 2018 Tassajara
Zen Transitions: Wisdom in Impermanence Serial: SF-12249 Talk by Tenshin Reb Anderson at Tassajara on 2017-11-22 Suzuki Roshi, Bodhidharma, Priest	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Nov 22 2017 Tassajara
Wholehearted Zen: Personal to Universal Serial: SF-12246 Talk by Tenshin Reb Anderson at Tassajara on 2017-11-07 Bodhidharma, Karma	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Nov 07 2017 Tassajara
Zen Stories About Perfect Understanding Serial: SF-10511 8/16/2017, Norman Fischer dharma talk at Tassajara. Emptiness, Bodhidharma	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	Aug 16 2017 Tassajara
Dogen's Cypress Tree Serial: SF-10483 8/12/2017, Shohaku Okumura dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Bodhidharma	Shohaku Okumura	Aug 12 2017 City Center
Bodhidharma's Outline of Practice Serial: SF-10318 6/9/2017, Red Pine dharma talk at Tassajara. Bodhidharma, Karma	Red Pine Bill Porter	Jun 09 2017 Tassajara
Nothing Holy - Everything Holy Serial: SF-09133 10/04/2015, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Bodhidharma, Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Oct 04 2015 Green Gulch Farm
Bodhidharma and Storytelling Serial: SF-07675 2014-10-05, Reirin Gumbel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Bodhidharma	Reirin Gumbel	Oct 05 2014 Green Gulch Farm
Bodhidharma's Compassionate Eyes Serial: SF-07439 3/31/2013, Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Bodhidharma, Compassion	Eijun Linda Cutts	Mar 31 2013 Green Gulch Farm
Bodhidharma's Song Serial: SF-09397 12/22/2012, Do-on Robert Thomas, dharma talk at City Center. Bodhidharma	Do-on Robert Thomas	Dec 22 2012 City Center
The Gift of Nothing Serial: SF-09388 12/15/2012, Zesho Susan O'Connell dharma talk at City Center. Intimacy, Bodhidharma	Zesho Susan O'Connell	Dec 15 2012 City Center
Embracing the Great Vehicle XXVI: The Dharma Method of Calling the Maid Serial: SF-09479 11/18/2012, Tenshin Reb Anderson, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Bodhidharma	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Nov 18 2012 Green Gulch Farm
Twining Vines Serial: SF-09403 6/17/2012, Myogen Steve Stucky dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Bodhidharma, Dogen	Myogen Steve Stücky	Jun 17 2012 Green Gulch Farm
A Special Transmission without Words Serial: SF-11715 12/17/2011, Shosan Victoria Austin dharma talk at City Center. Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Bodhidharma	Shosan Victoria Austin	Dec 17 2011 City Center
Relax into Delusion Serial: SF-11670 3/31/2011, Keiryu Lien Shutt dharma talk at City Center. Bodhidharma	Keiryu Liên Shutt	Mar 31 2011 City Center
Supporting Each Other To Practice Serial: SF-10540 11/27/2010, Shokan Jordan Thorn dharma talk at City Center. Bodhidharma	Shokan Jordan Thorn	Nov 27 2010 City Center
What Is the Business beneath the Patched Robe? Serial: SF-10610 10/3/2010, Tenshin Reb Anderson dharma talk at Tassajara. Bodhidharma, Intimacy	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Oct 03 2010 Tassajara
Latest News on Bodhidharma Serial: SF-10279 7/22/2009, Andy Ferguson dharma talk at Tassajara. Bodhidharma	Andy Ferguson	Jul 22 2009 Tassajara
Cultivating Resolve Through Continuous Practice Serial: SF-09957 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller on 2007-11-17 Continuous Practice, Bodhidharma	Ryushin Paul Haller	Nov 17 2007
Direct Path to True Nature Serial: SF-10013 Talk by Jordan Thorn at City Center on 2007-09-22 Zazen, Bodhidharma	Shokan Jordan Thorn	Sep 22 2007 City Center
Intelligence of the Natural World Serial: SF-00941 Sesshin Lecture: frog chorus; silence and activity; pain and fear of pain; Bodhidharma Bodhidharma, Sesshin, Prajna Paramita, Buddha Nature, Buddha Ancestors, Heart Sutra,...	Myogen Steve Stücky	Apr 07 2007 Green Gulch Farm
Developing Confidence in Buddha Nature Serial: SF-00074 Sunday talk. Koan with the wild ducks; story of the king who questioned the Buddha; report on global warming. Baizhang, Global Warming, Buddha Mind, Hindrances, Delusion, Practice Period, Dragons...	Myogen Steve Stücky	Mar 18 2007 Green Gulch Farm
Shuso Talk Serial: SF-04732 #shuso-talk Sanctuary, Zazen, Bodhidharma	John Grimes	Dec 05 2005 Tassajara
Bodhidharma and Buddha Nature Genjokoan, Book of Serenity, Buddha Mind, Tassajara, Nirvana, Practice Period,...	Taigen Dan Leighton	Jul 10 2005 Tassajara
Two Paths to the Dharma Practice Period, Liberation, Study Period, Mahayana, Bodhidharma, Soto Zen, Four...	Ryushin Paul Haller, Acharya Gaylon Ferguson	Mar 04 2005
Breathing In and Breathing Out Serial: SF-00934 One-day sitting lecture: Book of Serenity Case 3, Anapanasati Sutta, Six Subtle Dharma Gates Dragons, Lotus Sutra, Concentration, Book of Serenity, Bodhidharma, Liberation,...	Fu Schroeder	Sep 18 2004 Green Gulch Farm
Buddhism, Christianity, War and Peace Serial: SF-00939 Sunday Lecture: Two types of training: compassion and wisdom (wisdom: the entire universe is the true human body); US history; Christianity (is evil 'outside' or not); Mara... First Principle, Hate, Soto Zen, Heart Sutra, Bodhidharma, Separation	Fu Schroeder	May 16 2004 Green Gulch Farm
Meditation: Unraveling Reality's Illusions Buddha Mind, Don't Know Mind, Bodhidharma	Edward Espe Brown	Aug 13 2003
Sunday Lecture New Year, Hate, Bodhidharma, Delusion, Cultivation, Suzuki Roshi	Fu Schroeder	Dec 29 2002 Green Gulch Farm
Not Always So Class Emptiness, Buddha Nature, Realization, Suzuki Roshi, Chanting, Zazen, Bodhidharma...	Zenkei Blanche Hartman	Nov 18 2002 Tassajara
Moonlit Paths to Enlightenment Buddha's Birthday, Bodhidharma, Book of Serenity, Sandokai		May 22 2001

Bodhidharma Talks

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